Typewriter having two sets of typelevers and continuously moving carriage



Feb. 1, 1966 HEBEL 3,232,403

M. TYPEWRITER HAVING TWO SETS OF TYPELEVERS AND CONTINUOUSLY MOVING CARRIAGE Filed Dec. 26. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ff/l4 6:?

qume L Ire-4a? Feb. 1, 1966 M. HEBEL 3,232,403

TYPEWRITER HAVING TWO SETS OF TYPELEVERS AND CONTINUOUSLY MOVING CARRIAGE Filed Dec. 26, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 -04 a" 04.9 DAaMaAJ I NVEN TOR ar-fm f/eod HEBEL 3,232,403 ITER HAVING TWO SETS OF TYPELEVERS LY MOVING CARRIAGE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 1, 1966 TYPEWR AND CONTINUOUS Filed Dec. 26, 1961 INVENTOR.

HEBEL 3,232,403 ER HAVING TWO SETS OF TYPELEVERS Y MOVING CARRIAGE Feb. 1, 1966 M TYPEWRIT AND CONTINUOUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 26. 1961 lnillilulllil- Q l lill b Feb. 1, 1966 M. HEBEL TYPEWRITER HAVING TWO SETS OF TYPELEVERS AND CONTINUOUSLY MOVING CARRIAGE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 26, 1961 Ill? I l 1 kh NMYQQRM United States Patent 3,232,403 TYiEWRITER HAVING TWO SETS OF TYPE- LEVERS AND CONTINUOUSLY MOVING CARRIAGE Martin Hebel, Nurnberg, Germany, assignor to Grundig Elelttro-Mechanische Versuchsan-stalt, Furth, Bavaria, Germany Filed Dec. 26, 1961, Ser. No. 162,060 Claims priority, application Germany, Dec. 24, 1960,

G 31,237 36 Claims. (Cl. 197-19) The present invention relates to a high speed typewriting method and apparatus, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for operating type levers to produce imprints on a sheet carried by a continuously moving paper carriage. Preferably, the imprints represent characters, numbers or symbols stored in a storage device which is automatically read out under control of the moving paper carriage.

Conventional typewriting business machines are provided with a stepwise moving paper carriage which effects the reading out of numbers or characters stored in a storage device. Whenever a type lever is actuated, a stepwise movement of the paper carriage is effected, and by each step of the carriage, the storage device is controlled to effect the reading out of successive orders.

It is also known to control the typing operations of the type levers by an independent stepping mechanism on which the typing speed depends. After each step of the stepping mechanism, an order of a number stored in a storage device is printed, and the carriage shifted one step.

A disadvantage of the known typewriter constructions is the low typing speed which is caused by the great inertia of the paper carriage, which may be very long and heavy in accounting machines.

The typing speed of known machines is also limited by the fact that type lever actions cannot be actuated in very rapid succession, since the type levers interfere with each other in the region close to the impact point. Furthermore, each type lever must return to its initial position before it can be again actuated. Consequently, the maximum typing speed is 11 to 12 actuations per second in the known typewriter constructions.

A disadvantage of typewriting business machines, such as accounting machines, or billing machines is consequently the discrepancy between the very high computing speeds of electronic calculators, and the comparatively very slow typing speed of the typewriting part of the machine.

It has been proposed to use rapidly rotating printing wheels which are actuated by hammers to produce imprints when a selected type is located in printing position, but these devices are complicated and expensive, and moreover do not use conventional typewriter parts which have achieved a very high state of development and reli ability.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a typewriting method and apparatus achieving a far higher typing speed than conventional typewriting devices, although employing type lever actions.

Another object of the present invention is to increase the typing speed by continuously moving the paper carri-age while the type levers are successively operated so that the paper carriage need not be stopped and accelerated before and after each imprint.

A related object of the present invention is to reduce the noise, wear and tear associated with a stepwise operation of a paper carriage by means of an escapement mechanism.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a typewriting business machine which automatically prints groups of numbers under control of a storage device whereas the paper carriage moves continuously, while the paper carriage is stepwise moved when characters are manually typed.

Another object of the present invention is to reduce the operating time of each type lever by providing fewer type levers moving smaller angular distance as compared with conventional type lever actions.

A related object is to provide type levers with upper case and lower case type faces, one of the type faces of each type representing a number or symbol, and the other type face representing a character.

Another object of the present invention is to provide two sets of type bars having type faces with the same sets of numbers and characters thereon, and to effect alternate actuation of the type bars of the two sets so that difierent type bars and type faces are used for typing successively the same number or character.

Another object of the present invention is to further increase the typing speed by arranging the two sets of type bars symmetrically with respect to a plane passing through the impact point of the type faces.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the length of the'type lever segment in which the type levers are mounted so that the type lever segment and the types are located closer to the impact point.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electric motor for continuously moving the paper carriage, and to stop the carriage to obtain a stepwise movement of the same whenever a type lever action is manually operated.

With these objects in view, accordin to the present invention a paper carriage is moved with a sheet in a continuous movement, while type levers are operated to successively hit a continuously moving sheet transported by the moving paper carriage past the type levers. In business machines, such as accounting machines, numbers or characters stored in a storage device are successively read out under control of the moving paper carriage, and the type levers are selected to produce imprints of the read out characters or numbers. However, when the type levers are manually selected by key operation the paper carriage is controlled to move stepwise. A typewriting machine according to the present invention comprises a movable paper carriage, type lever means, means for continuously moving the paper carriage past the type lever means, and operating means controlled by the carriage to operate the type lever means during the continuous movement of the paper carriage. As a result, type faces of the type levers, moving to the same location contact the sheet and produce spaced imprints thereon since the sheet is in motion whereby the type levers can be operated in very rapid succession.

Such rapid succession of type lever operation is particularly required if the type levers are selected by selector means under control of a storage device, while the storage device is read out order by order under control of the movable paper carriage.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, two sets of type levers are provided, and the type levers of each set represent the same series of characters or numbers. The type levers of the two sets are alternately actuated under control of contacts moving with the paper carriage, so that if the same number or character is repeated in two orders of the storage device, type levers of the different sets are successfully actuated so that it is not necessary to wait for the return of the first actuated type lever to its initial position before the next number can be typed.

Tabulating means are provided for controlling the carriage movement so that the carriage can be stopped after a group of numbers has been read out from the storage device and printed by the type levers.

The types of each type lever have a lower case number or symbol, and an upper case character, such as a capital letter, and all type levers can be shifted between an upper case position and a .lower case position, preferably in such a manner that in the lower :case positions numbers are printed under control of the storage device, wherein the upper case jposition characters are printed under manual control, while the paper carriage is caused to move stepwise.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method -'of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying'dr-aw-ings, in which:

FIG. 1 is partly a fragmentary schematic perspective View of one embodiment of the invention, and partly a diagram;

FIG. 2 is aside view, :partly in section, illustrating a type lever action in accordance with the present invention;'

FIG. 3 is a schematic developed view illustrating the types and type face's 'used in a preferred --e'rnbodiment;

FIG. 4 is an electric circuit diagram illustrating the circuit of a machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a time diagram illustrating the successive operative and inoperative positions of'various elements of an apparatus in accordance "with the present invention during an automatic typing operation "under control of thest-orage device; and

FIG. 6 is a time diagram illustrating the operative and inoperative conditions of elements of an apparatus according to the present invention during a typing operation under manual control.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. '1, only a portion 'of a paper carriage *1 is illustrated for the sake of clarity, the other parts of the paper carriage being of conventional nature. 7

A rack bar 7 is secured to the paper carriage 1, and engaged by a gear 6 having a shaft S'driven at reduced speed through a transmission means 4 from the shaft 3 of a motor '2. Motor 2 is preferably a direct current motor which is provided with an electro-mechanical, or electrical braking device. For example,'the main winding, or an additional winding may be used for producing a braking effect'on the motor so that it stops in desired positions. Preferably, the windings are printed circuits so that the rotor of motor 2 has a small inertia, and can rapidly accelerate or stop.

The paper carriage 1 can be continuously driven by motor 2, but it is also possible to obtain astepwise motion of the paper carriage 1.

Control contact means are mounted on the typewriter carriage 1, and include a plate 12 which carries a printed circuit including two sets of control contacts 13 and 14 which are arranged in parallel rows staggered relative to each other .in the direction of the carriage movement. Two slide contacts 15 and 16 are mounted on a stationary support, and respectively slide over the contacts 13 and 14 when carriage 1 moves. The sets of contacts 13 and 14 are connected to each other at the ends of the rows, and a further slide contact 17 is connected to ground, and slides on the control contact means 13 and 14 so that contacts 13 and 14 are connected to ground in every position of the carriage 1.

Each contact 13 is spaced from the adjacent contact 14 a distance corresponding to the desired spacing of imprints on the sheet transported by the paper carriage 1. Since contacts 13 and 1-4 are staggered, adjacent contacts 13 and adjacent contacts 14 are spaced twice this distance.

Plate '12 carries a set 'of tabulating contacts '20 which are spaced from each other distances corresponding to the desired spacing of two imprints so that alternating tabulating contacts 20 are aligned with contacts 13 and 14. A stationary tabulator contact 21 slides on contact 20 and successively engages the same during movement of carriage 1. Contact 21 is connected by contacts k1, f5, and x1 with a relay C.

A tabulator rail 22 is detachably mounted on paper carriage 1, and is constructed in such a manner that tabulator contact tabs 23 can be set therein at'selected places. A conductive bar 24 connects all set contact tabs 23 to ground. A set tabulator contact tab 23 connects the corresponding tabulator contact 20 to ground, so that relay C is connected to ground when slide contact 21 engages a contact 20 connected to a set contact tab 23,

provided that contact f5, x1 are closed. When relay C is energize-d, motor 2 is stopped in amanner which will be described hereinafter so that the carriage 1 stops when a set contact tab '23 moves into the region of slide contact 21.

Paper carriage 1 is provided in a conventional manner with a platen 28, not shown in FIG. 1, but illustrated in FIG. 2. A paper sheet can be mounted on platen 28 to receive imprints of the type faces of the types 36 of type levers-or type bars 26. Type levers in bars 26 are mounted for angular movement on a segment-shaped type lever support 27, only one type lever being shown in FIG. 2 for the sake of clarity. A link 29 connects-an arm of each type lever 26 with a spring-loaded lever 30 connected by link 31 to an intermediate lever 32 carrying an eccentric coupling member 33 which cooperates with the continuously rotating power roll 34 of the typewriter mechanism. A key lever 35 is provided with a springloaded part 36 which engages member 33 when key lever 35 is either manually depressed, or downwardly moved by an electromagnetic means D. The electromagnetic means D include two sets Dat) to Da9, and D116 to D113.

Whenever the key lever 35 is actuated, the corresponding member 33 engages the power roll 34, and the type action is actuated so that the respective type lever 26 moves from the position illustrated in solid lines to a printing position in which its type face 36 engages a sheet on platen 28. Each type lever moves an angular distance which is the sum of the angles a, and b There are two sets of type levers 26 provided which carry corresponding sets of types or type faces 36a and 36b. The two sets of types 36a and 3612 are arranged symmetrically to a plane which is perpendicular to the axis of platen 28 and passes through the impact point of all types 36 on platen 28. The arrangement of the type faces is shown in FIG. 3 which is a developed view inthe direction of the arrow AA. The type face arrangement of the present invention is different from the conventional arrangement, inasmuch as the two sets of types 36a and 36b 'have the upper case characters representing the letters of the English alphabet, as well as certain symbols, while the lower case type faces have two sets 36a, 36b which respectively represent the same digits from O to 9'. Other types :have on the lowercase type faces, symbols which are not duplicated and have no bearing on the invention. A blank type is added on which additional symbols or characters may be provided.

The electromagnetic actuating means Da and Db are respectively correlated with the two sets of type levers 26 which carry the types 36a and 36b, respectively. Those electromagnetic actuating means D which are associated with digits, are provided with an additional index, for example 0 or 9. Due to the fact that only capital letters are provided in accordance with the present invention, the number of type levers is substantially reduced. The are of the segment-shaped type lever support 27 is shorter, and the outer type lever is angularly spaced from the center of the segment-shaped type lever support 27 a shorter distance than in conventional constructions. Consequently, the segment-shaped support 27 can be moved closer to the impact area of the type levers 36, as compared with conventional typewriters in which the type levers have to move an angle of substantially 90 as indicated by the type lever shown in broken lines in FIG. 2. In contrast, in the present invention, a type lever 26 moves through an angle of substantially 60 from its position of rest, defined by a stop 37, to the operative position producing imprint on a sheet on platen 28. Due to the shortened travel of each type lever 26, the time for a complete operation of each type lever is substantially reduced.

As explained above, two sets of symmetrically arranged type levers or type bars with types and type faces 36 re correlated with the digits from zero to nine. In accordance with the present invention, two sets of type levers are alternately actuated so that if two successive digits 1 have to be printed, first the type lever carrying the type 36-1,, is actuated, and then the type lever 36-1 is actuated so that it is not necessary to wait with the second imprint until the type lever correlated with the digit 1 has returned to its position of rest, which is required in conventional machines having only a single type lever correlated with each digit. As will be explained hereinafter in greater detail, the contacts 13 are correlated with the electromagnetic actuating means Da, and the contacts 14 are correlated with the electromagnetic actuating means Db so that a type lever of one set is actuated when contact 15 engages a contact 13, while a type lever of the other set is actuated when contact 16 engages a contact 14, and since contacts 15 and 1d alternately engage contacts 13 and 14, the alternate actuation of the two sets of type levers is effected.

The segment-shaped type lever support 27 can be shifted by conventional shifting means, not shown, between the upper case position and the lower case position, and key levers are manually operated when support 27 is lowered to effect printing of the characters provided on the upper type faces of the types 36. Preferably, numbers are printed in the lower case position of the support 27 under control of a storage device 38 which effects selection of the type levers 26 by selector means 18 and 19, as will now be described with reference to FIG. 4.

The storage device 38 is only schematically indicated, since it is of a well known construction. The storage device disclosed in the US. Patent 2,910,674 may be used. A magnet core storage device may be used for storing digits and characterizing signs, such as the plus and minus signs. A code employing six code elements zero, one, two, three, four and five is preferably used in the storage device. The output of the storage device 38 is connected to five relays W to W which are energized in varying combinations to express the digits 0 to 9, as will be under stood by those skilled in the art. Relays W to W respectively operate associated holding contacts Wiii, wl-l, w2-1, wS-l, 4-1, and 11 5-1 so that the energized relays remain energized until the circuit of the holding contacts is interrupted by a holding control contact k2 operated by relay K.

In FIG. 4, all relays are indicated by capital letters and the relays of a series are indicated by sequential numbers. The contacts operated by the relays are indicated by corresponding small letters with numerical indices indicating the number of contacts controlled by each relay, for example relay W has contacts wl-l to w1-8 since eight contacts wl are controlled by relay W All contacts are shown in their normal position of rest, which may be a circuit breaking or a circuit making position, and are shifted to their respective other position when the controlling relay is energized. Since relays and contacts are identified by corresponding letters, the contacts are not shown adjacent the relays.

Several orders of a number are stored in the storage device 38, and the storage device is read out order by order, so that it is necessary to shift the storage device to the next following order after reading out each order. This is accomplished by a pulse entering storage device 38 through conductor 39 when contacts f a and x are closed. Contact f is operated by a relay means P which has two windings F(1) and F(2), contact u is operated by a relay U, and contact x is operated by a relay X. In order to simplify the illustration of the circuit, relay contacts, which are actually mounted on the relay, and which are normally closed or opened as shown in FIG. 4, are not shown adjacent the respective relay, or associated relay contacts, but in positions permitting short connecting lines. The read out value is represented by a combination of energized relays V to W which operate contacts W1 to w in selector means 18 and 19. Contacts W1, W2, W3, W4, W5 are provided in each of the selector means 18 and 19, and are connected in each selector means to each other, and also to the electromagnetic actuating means Dad to Da9, and Dbl) to Db9 in such a manner that if the energized relays W represent a certain digit, the actuating means Dr: or Db associated with the type lever action of the respective digit is energized. For example, it is assumed that the digit 1 is represented by the code element one, and consequently if relay W is energized, and all contacts W1 are shifted in selector means 18, the only conductive connection between switch a and electromagnetic actuating means Da will be a series of contacts on the left side of selector means 18 since contacts w W3, W4, W5 remain closed, and contact w l is shifted to a position connected to electromagnetic means Da which operates the type lever action of the type 364a representing the digit 1 in the set of types 36a. On the other hand, electromagnetic means D09 is energized when contacts -1 and 11 -2 are shifted by energized relays W and W since the digit 9 is represented by the code elements four and five.

Whenever certain relays W to W are energized, the corresponding switches in both selector means 18 and 19 are shifted, and the electromagnetic actuating means Da and Db of both selector means 18 and 19 are in a position of readiness. However, the circuit must be closed either by contact a or by contact 5 before the respective electromagnetic actuating means D can operate a type lever action.

Contact a and contact [1 are operated by relays A and B, see FIG. 1. Relays A and B are connected through contacts e, and 6 to the slide contacts 15 and 16, so that, assuming that contacts e and e are closed by energizing of the corresponding relay B, see FIG. 4, relays A and B are alternately energized as slide contacts 15 and 16 pass over staggered contacts 13 and 14. Consequently the electromagnetic actuating means D and D associated with digits and selected under control of the storage device 33 will alternately effect actuation of the two sets of type levers, and alternate printing by the sets of types 36:: and 36b.

Relays W to W also control contacts w w w W3 2, w and W5 2. Actually, the contacts in selector means is and 19 could be more systematically indicated by adding 3 to all reference characters, as shown for the 7 contact w in the left upper corners of the boxes indicating selector means 18 and 19.

However, this additional index designating the third series of contacts controlled by relays W has been omitted for the sake of simplicity.

Contacts w 'to W 2 are connected in parallel to each other and in series with normally closed contacts a and b controlled by relays A and B, and also in series with a normally closed contact h which is connected to ground. The other terminals of contacts w to w are connected by winding K and to a relay 1 (1) of relay means P which controls contact h. The second winding 1 (2) of the relay means F is connected to two contacts f and k to grounded. Whenever any of the contacts w to w is closed, relay K and F are excited, relay F holding itself since contacts f and it close.

The relay K serves the purpose of maintaining the hold ing circuits of relay W to W through the contact k until an electromagnetic actuating means D has been selected, and operated. Relay E serves the purpose of limiting the actuating pulses which pass from control contacts 13 and 14 and through contacts e and e to the relays A and B.

Relay F effects shifting of storage device 38 to the next following order through contacts f and connector 39 after actuation of a type lever action.

FIG. 5 indicates the time periods during which the relays are energized, the energized condition of the relay being indicated by a double line. The length of the horizontal line in horizontal direction of FIG. 5 correspondsto a 45 milliseconds.

Relays E, K and F are provided with conventional delay means which delay the operation of the contact when the respective relay is de-energized.

A switch t is connected in parallel with contacts w to w and is operated whenever a key lever is operated in the upper case position of the type levers in which letters are typed. Switch t is also in the circuit of relay K, F(1) and E. Whenever switch is actuated, relays K, F, and E are energized and operate the contacts controlled thereby.

Switch t serves the purpose to efiFect a stepwise movement of the carriage, which is desired when the keys are manually selected for eflected typing of letters. Switch t may be operated by a conventional switching ring controlled by the type levers.

As best seen in FIG. 1, an electromagnetic means 8 controls a lever 9 with a catch cooperating with rack bar 7 on carriage 1. A spring 11 urges escapement lever 9 to engage rack bar 7. Carriage 1 can continuously travel when driven by motor 2 through gear 6 it electromagnetic means 3 is energized by closing of contact 14 and catch It is retracted from rack bar 7. When electromagnetic means 8 is repeatedly actuated, the carriage moves stepwise, as it is desired when the selection of the type levers does not take place under control of the storage device 38, but under manual control by an operator depressing the key levers.

Contact a in the circuit of electromagnetic means 3, contact a in the circuit of motor 2, and holding contact 11 are controlled by a relay U together with a contact 10 connected in series with contacts f and x Relay U is energized either by manual operation of a switch t which initiates the typing operation, or by closing of a contact f controlled by relay F. Relay U holds itself by holding contact 14 and is disconnected when the tabulator relay C is energized and opens the normally closed contact 0 A tabulator actuating relay is energized when a tabulator switch t is manually closed, and is held by its holding contact x When tabulator relay C is energized, contact 0 opens, and de-energizes tabulator actuating relay X. The energized tabulator actuating relay X closes its contact x in the circuit of tabulator relay C, see PEG. 1, so that relay C can be energized through the closed contact k if a tabulator contact tab 23 is connected to the contact 20 is engaged by slide contact 21 during the movement of carriage l.

The operation of the typewriting machine according to the above described embodiment will now be described With reference to an example. It is assumed that the number 1111 is stored in the storage device 33. It is immaterial whether this value was entered by manual operation of a ten-key keyboard, or was introduced as the result of a computing operation of a calculating mechanism. The present invention serves the purpose of providing at high speed a typewritten record of a number stored in the storage device.

The operation is started by depressing the key controlling the start switch 2 so that the same closes. Carriage movement control relay U is energized as indi cated in FIG. 5 by a double line since contact 0 is normally closed. Contact 14 is actuated by relay U and efiects energizing of motor 2, and contact a energizes the escapement control electro-magnet 8 so that escapernent lever with catch it) is operated against the action of spring 11 to release rack bar 7. The energized motor 2 drives carriage l in a continuous movement over a distance corresponding to the spaces required by the stored number. The speed of the carriage is determined by the reducing transmission 4, and is selected in such a manner that the time required for the carriage to move the normal distance between two imprints, corresponds to the minimum time period between successive type lever operations actuated at the highest possible typing speed.

At the beginning of the carriage movement, storage device 3% is read out in a known starting with the highest order in which the digit 1 is stored.

In the present example it is assumed that the capacity of the storage device is four orders. In practical embodiments, the storage device can store a far greater number of orders so that in the event that a four order number is to be read out, several higher orders have to be passed first. However, this operation has no bearing on the present invention since no typing is necessary Where no number is stored. Therefore, it is assumed that as soon as carriage 1 starts moving, the reading out of the digit stored in the highest order of the storage device will commence.

Energizing of the carriage movement control relay U eiiects closing of holding contact 1: and of contact 14 so that a command signal is given through contact a f and conductor 39 to the storage device 38 which effects the reading out of the highest order, and a shifting of the storage device to the next lower order. The digit 1 stored in the highest order is represented by energizing of selected code element representing relays N to W and in accordance with the used code, only relay W is energized, see FIG. 5, since the code element 1 also represents the digit 1.

All contacts w of relay W close. Contact w holds relay W contact w closes the circuit of relay K and F(l), and all contacts w to w in the selector means 18 and 153 are shifted.

The energized relay K shifts its contact k so that relay E is energized.

Due to the arrangements of the contacts W1 to w in the selector means 13 and 19, a path is opened for the current between the open contacts (2 and b and the type lever actuating electro magnets D and D In this moment, carriage 1 has moved to a position in which one of the slide contacts 15 or 16 engages a contact 13 or 14, while the other slide contact is opposite a space between two contacts on carriage ll. Correspondingly, either selector relay A, or selector relay B is energized at a moment indicated in the time diagram of FIG. 5, since the previously energized selector control relay E had closed contacts 6 and e Assuming that a contact if: first reached the stationary contact 15 during the carriage movement, selector relay A is energized and closes contact :2 controlling selector means 18 so that current flows through the type lever actuating electro-magnet D see FIG. 5. Since contact remains open, type lever actuating electro-magnet D is not energized.

The energized actuating electro-magnet D operates key lever 35, as best seen in FIG. 2, so that number 33 is moved into engagement with the rotating power roll 34-, and a type action is actuated, resulting in rapid movement of the respective type lever 26 with type 354a toward a sheet, not shown, on platen 28 whereby an imprint representing the digit 1 is produced.

Since catch It is in an inoperative retracted position, carriage 1 with platen 28 and the sheet thereon move continuously, and are in motion when hit by the type face of the actuated type lever. Surprisingly, it has been found that the imprint is not slurred or blurred which can be explained by the fact that the type face is only two milliseconds in its printing position pressing the ribbon against the sheet as indicated by the peak of the line representing the type lever movement in FIG. 5.

When selector relay A is energized, contact a opens so that selector control relay E is de-energized, and contact 2 e open again so that selector relay A is tie-energized in a time sequence indicated in FIG. 5. If selector relay B would have been energized, the same function would have been performed by the contact b connected in series with contact a Selector control elay E operates with a slight delay. The de-energizing of the selector relay A prevents an undesired second operation of the respective type lever controlled by electromagnet D When contact a opens, it also deenergizes holding control relay K so that contact k2 and [:3 open. Contact k2 interrupts the circuit of the holding contacts w to W and particularly of the closed holding contact W1 1 so that relay W which represents a code element, is de-energized. The open contact k3 interrupts the circuit of the relay winding 1 (2), while the circuit of the relay winding F(1) was already interrnpted when contact (:2 opened. Since the windings 1 (1), 1 (2) are de-energized, contact f2 returns to its normal closed position so that a new command signal is given for eltecting the reading out of the next lower order, and a shifting of the storage device to the next following order. The reading out of the second order energizes the respective, code element representing, relay or relays. In the particular example, the digit 1 is stored in the next lower order so that only the relay W1 representing code element one is energized. Contact w closes and effects energization of the holding control relay K of the selector control relay E, and of the storage device control relay P which includes the two windings 1 (1) and F(2).

In the same manner as in the preceding operation, all contacts w to W5 also referred to as w to w are shifted in the selector means 18 and 19, so that the current path of type lever actuating electro-magnets Dal and Dbl are again prepared.

Since the carriage moves on, slide contact engages the next following contact 14 so that the selector relay B is energized, see FIG. 5, contact e2 having been closed by the energized selector control relay E.

Since selector relay B controls contact b of selector means 19, the current flows through the contacts of selector means 19 and the type lever actuating electromagnet Dbl is energized so that a type lever of a second set of type levers which carry the types 36b is actuated, see FIG. 5, and in the specific example, the type lever carrying the type 361b, representing the digit 1, is operated to produce an imprint of the digit 1 on a sheet carried by the platen 23.

It will be noted that the same digit, stored in consecutive orders of the storage device, was typed by two dilferent type levers which are respectively associated with difierent sets of type levers located on the left and the right side of a plane of symmetry passing through the point of imprint, as will be best understood with reference to the developed view of FIG. 3. Therefore, it is not necessary that the type lever of the left set of type levers controlled by actuating means Dal) to Da9, returns to its initial position before the same digit can be typed in the next following order, since the corresponding type lever of the right set of type levers can start its movement toward the sheet on platen 28 while the corresponding type lever of the left set travels away from the point of imprint and to its position of rest.

While this arrangement is particularly effective to increase the typing speed if the same digit appears in consecutive orders, it also increases the typing speed it different digits have to be typed in consecutive orders, since there is less interference between type levers moving from opposite directions toward the printing area, than between type levers moving in the same direction toward the printing area, particularly from directly adacent positions.

The energization and de-energized periods of the relays K, E and F is determined corresponding to the speed of movement of the carriage, so that periods overlap during which two type levers move so that the type lever having printed at higher order performs its return stroke back while the type lever about to print the next lower order moves toward the point of impact.

The time diagram of FIG. 5 shows in its lower portion the strokes of types 364a and 36lb. It will be seen that type lever 36-1b starts its rapid forward stroke while type lever 36411 is approaching the end of its rearward return stroke so that the motions of the two successively operated type levers overlap.

Each type lever moves through an angle of approximately 60 as shown in FIG. 3. In the part a,, of the angle, type levers of diiferent sets can move simultaneously without colliding. This angle is approximately 40. In the angle b which is approximately 20, the type levers of the two difierent sets cannot move simultaneously, since they would collide. The given values of the angles are approximated since the collision angle b also depends on the distance of two corresponding type levers from each other in the position of rest. Since the arrangement or the present invention reduces the collision angle substantially as compared with conventional arrangements, a typing speed of impacts per second is obtained. This high typing speed can also be maintained if the same digit is successively printed in two consecutive orders, since type levers of different sets are used for this purpose. In conventional arrangements, a type lever representing a digit must return to its position of rest before it can start again to type the same digit in the next following order.

When the number stored in the storage device, for example the number 1111, has been printed by alternate operation of the type levers of the two sets, carriage 1 is stopped which is eifected by a previously set tabulator contact tab 23. After holding control relay K is de energized, and while contact f5 of storage device control relay F is still closed due to the fact that the relay F operates with a delay, the slide contact 21 engages the tabulator contact 20 which is connected to contact tab 23 so that a circuit is closed through contact 23, bar 24-, contact rail 22, contact 20, slide contact 21, and contact k and f for energizing the tabulator relay C which opens contact e in the holding circuit of carriage movement control relay U. Contact 1: and a open, and carriage 1 is no longer driven by motor 2, and at the same time stopped by catch it) engaging rack bar 7 under the action of spring 11. Catch 10 is preferably a roller turnably mounted on a pivot pin at th end of the lever 9.

The carriage may now be moved to the next following column in which another typing operation is desired. A tabulator key is operated which closes the tabulator actuating switch 12 in the circuit of the tabulator actuating relay X so that the same is energized and closes contact x Therefore, a current path is provided to slide contact 21, and as soon as the carriage 1 has moved to a position engaging a tabulator contact 20 which is connected to a previously set tabulator contact tab 23, the tabulator relay C is energized, see FIG. 5, to interrupt the circuit of the carriage movement control relay U by opening contact c2, so that the carriage is stopped, as described above.

Motor 2 is provided with resistors in its field winding which are controlled by switch t2, so that motor 2 runs faster when energized due to operation of the tabulator actuating switch t2. Consequently, the movement of the carriage to the next following column takes place at a higher speed than the speed of the carriage during a typing operation, since the later speed is limited by tie speed of operation of the type levers. The same high speed operation can be used for the carriage return, which may be accomplished by reversing the direction of rotation of motor 2, or by reversing gear means.

As explained above, the drive motor has a built in electro-mechanic or electric braking device. For example, an impulse control DC. motor may be used, which has a brake winding so as to be stopped in one of several predetermined positions of its rotor.

Motor 2 is also used for moving the carriage 1 in steps which is desired when a text or numbers are to be typed under manual control of the key levers 35. A key lever 35 may be selected and depressed by an operator. The manual operation of the keys is employed in the upper case position of the type levers 26 in which the letters of the alphabet are used for writing a text. The lower case position is used for automatic typing of digits by the two sets of type faces having identical series of symbols and digits.

Whenever a key is operated, switch t3 is closed, and eifect-s energization of holding control relay K, storage device control relay F, and selector control relay E as indicated in the time diagram of FIG. 6. Contact f4 is closed and effects energization of the carriage movement control relay U so that motor 2 and escapement control electro-magnet 8 are energized so that the carriage starts its movement. Selector control relay E is also energized, so that upon alternate engagement of contacts 13, 14 by slide contacts 15, 16, the selector relays A and B are alternately energized to effect alternate employment of the two type lever sets starting with relay A as shown in FIG. 5. Relays K and F are de-energized, and after the delayed relay K has actuated the contact controlled thereby, tabulator relay C can be energized when slide contact 21 engages the tabulator contact 20 connected to a set contact tab 23.

In the region of the sheet, platen, and paper carriage 1, where the typing of a text or number is to be carried out under manual control of the keys, a contact tab is set opposite each tabulator contact 20, and connected to the same. Therefore, during movement of the carriage through this zone, every time slide contact 21 engages a tabulator contact 20, the circuit of relay C is closed, and C is energized, opens contact 02, and de-energizes carriage movement control relay U so that escapement control electro-rnagnet 8 is rile-energized by the opened contact a2, and catch 1% stops carriage 1. In this manner, carriage 1 is stopped every time contact 21 engages a contact 20, and since contacts 20 are spaced corresponding to the desired distance between two imprints, earriage 1 moves stepwise between successive positions in which the imprints are properly spaced. Therefore, re lay C is not only used as tabulator relay, but also as escapement control relay while the carriage jumps letter spaces instead of column spaces.

Instead of providing the above described tabulator arrangement, a motor selector of the type used in telephone systems may be used as drive motor. A motor of this type rotates either continuously, or stepwise, and can be rapidly and securely braked by exciting of the two selector windings. The carriage may also be driven by a continuously rotating motor, which is coupled by a magnet coupling to the gear 6 when drive of the carriage is required. Such electro-magnetic coupling can be energized by the contacts of the carriage movement control relay U to selectively obtain a continuous, or stepwise carriage movement.

The carriage movement switch t3 is very frequently operated to control the stepwise movement of the carriage, and it is therefore preferred to use instead of a mechanical switch, a photoelectric device including a photocell and a photo-resistance, or an inductive switch means including coils having variable inductance.

Instead of the electric motor, a spring motor may be used for pulling the paper carriage continuously in one direction during the automatic printing of a number under control of the storage device. For the stepwise movement of the carriage, a conventional escapement mechanism of the type used in typewriters may be used. Such an arrangement has the advantage that a conventional electric typewriter can be used for the typewriting operation in accordance with the present invention.

The plate 12 can be modified as a control device of the type used in accounting machines, in which exchangeable stops and sensing levers act on contacts. In another modified arrangement, the control plate 12 has the form of a rotary disc which is arranged on the motor shaft 3 or on the gear shaft 5 and rotates in synchronism with the carriage so that contact 13, 14 may be arranged in a circle. The contacts 13, 14 may be provided on the disc as a printed circuit. This arrangement is preferred, if there is no space on the carriage for mounting the control contacts. In accordance with another modified arrangement, the control means include a magnetic tape, or a magnetic drum moving in synchronism with the paper carriage, and controlling by a pick-up head, an amplifier and pulse shaper, and alternately the selector means by relays corresponding to the relays A and B.

The above described control means can be constructed in such a manner that they also effect the control of automatic functions, such as storage device actuation, reading out of sub total or totals, tabulator jumps, negative calculations, etc., as in known accounting machines.

The method of the present invention may also be carried out without a control means moving in synchronism to the carriage movement by effecting the reading out, and the order shifting of the storage device by the type levers as the same perform strokes. In this construction, each type lever action shifts a common rail, which closes a switch providing a command signal to the storage device so that the same is read out in the respective order, and shifted to the next order, whereupon the storage device initiates the next movement of a type lever. The printing may also be effected by other type mechanisms, if the same are capable of performing at the desired high typing speed. For example, type wheel or type bar mechanisms may be employed.

A very advantageous and time saving operation is obtained if the carriage return movement is used for the typing of a number. In this modification, the carriage is driven by a reversible motor, by a reversible gear, or by a return spring so as to selectively move in either direction when typing of numbers is required.

After movement in either direction, normally a line spacing operation is required. Furthermore, the storage device 38 must be constructed in a manner which is known to those skilled in the art, to be adapted to be read out from the highest to the lowest order, as well as from the lowest to the highest order. The means which effect a reversal of the carriage movement, also set the storage device to reading out in one or the other direction. Otherwise, the control of the storage device and of the typewriting operations take place as described above. An arrangement of this type is very flexible, and can be used for many accounting and billing operations which may be performed in a very short time.

The typewriting machine according to the present invention is not limited to the typing of numerical values. The characters stored in the storage device, and typed during the continuous carriage motion under control of the storage device, may be the letters of the alphabet, or other symbols. In this manner, it is possible to automatically type standard texts occurring in accounting records. The letters may be expressed by a combination of the code elements, as has been described with reference to the ten digits. If necessary, a greater number of code elements and cod-e element representing relays may be used.

Similarly, a conventional electric typewriter may be provided with a storage device in which a character, number or symbol is stored when a key is depressed by the operator. At a later time, when all characters and numbers of a desired text are stored in the storage device, with spacing symbols after each word or number, a command signal can be given to read out the storage device to print the entire text during a continuous carriage movement at very high speed in an automatic operation. As compared with a conventional typewriter, the noise produced by stepwise movement of the typewriter carriage is reduced, and the typing speed substantially increased since the start-stop motion of the paper carriage is eliminated.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of typewriting methods and machines differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a high speed typewriting apparatus employing a continuously moving carriage and two sets of digit representing type lever means, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A typewriting machine comprising a movable paper carriage adapted to support a sheet; type lever means operable to and from a printing position for printing on a sheet on said paper carriage and including two sets of type levers, the type levers of each set representing the same series of digits so that pairs of type levers represent the same digit; means for continuously moving said paper carriage past said type lever means; means controlled by said carriage for rendering operable in successive carriage positions selected pairs of said pairs of type levers; and operating means controlled by said carriage to alternately operate the type levers of said two sets of each selected operable pair of type levers during continuous movement of said paper carriage so that said type levers of said two sets alternately print on the sheet and produce spaced imprints thereon while said carriage is in motion whereby said type lever means can be operated in very rapid succession.

2. In a typewriting machine, in combination, two sets of type lever means, each set having type faces representing the same digits so that pairs of type levers represent 14 the same digit; selector means for selecting one type lever means of each set correlated with the same selected digit so that pairs of type lever means representing the same digit are selected; and actuating means for alternately actuating the type lever means of said two sets of type lever means of each selected pair of type lever means.

3. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a type lever support; two sets of type lever means mounted on said support symmetrically to a plane of symmetry, each set having type faces representing the digits from zero to nine so that pairs of type levers represent the same digit; selector means for selecting one type lever means of each set correlated with the same selected digit so that pairs of type lever means representing the same digit are selected; and actuating means for alternately actuating the type lever means of said two sets of lever means of each selected pair of type lever means.

4. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a type lever support; two sets of type lever means mounted on said support symmetrically to a plane of symmetry, each set having type faces representing the digits from zero to nine so that pairs of type levers represent the same digit; selector means for selecting one type lever means of each set correlated with the same selected digit so that pairs of type levers means representing the same digit are selected; movable carriage means having a platen for supporting a sheet adapted to receive imprints from said type faces; and actuating means including means on said carriage means effective during movement of said carriage means for alternately actuating the type lever means of said two sets of type lever means of each selected pair of type lever means.

5. A machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein said support is segment-shaped and extends over a short arc and is closely spaced from said platen to permit a short travel of said type faces with said type levers.

6. A typewriting business machine comprising, in combination, a movable paper carriage adapted to support a sheet; a storage device for storing characters or numbers in a plurality of orders and being actuated during movement of said paper carriage so that the orders of said storing device are successively read out; type lever means for representing said characters or numbers and being movable to and from a printing position for printing on a sheet on said paper carriage, said type lever means including two sets of type levers, the type levers of each set representing the same series of digits; drive means for continuously moving said paper carriage with a sheet past said type lever means; control means including two sets of staggered control contacts moving in synchronism with said paper carriage; two selector means controlled by said storage device to simultaneously select one type lever of each set of type levers representing the digit read out from said storage device; two stationary contacts cooperating with said sets of control contacts and successively engaging said moving staggered control contacts; and two sets of electric actuating means for respectively operating said sets of type levers, each set of actuating means being electrically connected to one of said stationary contacts in such a manner that the selected type levers of said sets of type levers are alternately actuated whenever said stationary contacts engage said staggered control contacts to move to said printing position to produce imprints of read-out digits on the sheet while the same is in continuous motion whereby said type lever means can be operated in rapid succession.

7. A machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein the type levers of each set of type levers represent the series of digits from 0 to 9.

8. A machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein said actu ating means are electromagnetic means; and wherein each selector means includes a selector relay connected in series with one of said stationary contacts, and two contact means respectively controlled by said selector relays, and wherein each selector means includes a plurality of 15 selector contacts, and wherein said storage device includes a plurality of relays for representing numerical values and controlling said selector contacts so that a current path is established between said contact means and a selected electric actuating means.

9. A machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said control means include a plate mounted on said paper carriage for movement therewith, and wherein said staggered control contacts are secured to said plate in the form of a printed circuit.

19. A machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said control means include means connected to said paper carriage formovement therewith and electrically connected to said storage device for effecting successive reading out of the orders of the storage device.

11. A machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said drive means include a continuously rotating electric motor; and including a tabulator catch means for stopping said paper carriage, and being biased to move to an operative position; electric escapement control means for retracting said tabulator catch to an inoperative position; a plurality of tabulator contacts spaced along said paper carriage distances corresponding to the desired spacing of imprints; settable contact tabs electrically connected to selected tabulator contacts for determining column positions of said paper carriage, a slide contact sliding over said tabulator contacts during carriage movement; and circuit means connecting said slide contact with said escapement control means so that the same are actuated to retract said tabulator catch whenever the carriage arrives in a column position determined by a set tabulator contact tab.

12. A machine as set forth-in claim 11 wherein in selected regions of said paper carriage and said sheets, contact tabs are set opposite each tabulator contact so that said carriage is tabulated to move in a stepwise movement to distances corresponding to the spacing of imprints on the sheet.

13. A machine as set forth in claim 11 wherein said circuit means includes means for disconnecting said electric motor means simultaneously with said escapement control means so that said carriage means is not driven by said motor when stopped by said tabulator catch.

14. A machine as set forth in claim 6 and including means for stepwise moving said paper carriage; and manually operated keys for effecting actuation of said two sets of type levers so that the paper carriage moves stepwise during manual control of the type levers.

15. A machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said drive means includes an electric motor for moving said paper carriage in forward and return directions.

16. A machine as set forth in claim 15 wherein said electric motor is operatable at a higher and a lower speed, and including means for effecting operation of said motor at the higher speed when said carriage moves in said return direction.

17. A machine as set forth in claim 16 and including tabulating means for tabulating said paper carriage in said forward direction between different column positions, and wherein said motor operates at said higher speed during tabulating movements of said carriage.

18. A machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said drive means includes an electric motor adapted for continuous rotation and for stepwise rotation; means for manually operating said type levers; and means for setting said motor to stepwise rotation when said type levers are manually operated so that said paper carriage moves stepwise during manual operation of said type levers.

19. A machine as set forth in claim 18 wherein said motor is an impulse controlled direct current motor including means for braking the motor when the same is tie-energized.

20. A machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said drive means is an electric motor having windings constructed in the form of printed circuit.

21. A machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said drive means includes a continuously rotating motor, and electrically controlled coupling means for connecting said motor with said paper carriage.

22. A machine as set forth in claim 6 and including means for effecting a stepwise movement of said carriage; means for manually operating said type levers; and a manually operated switch connected to said means for effect ing stepwise movement so that said paper carriage moves in step when said type levers are manually operated.

23. A machine as set forth in claim 22 and including a member for operating said switch, said member being operated to actuate said switch after an operation of each of said type levers.

24. A machine set forth in claim 6 wherein said drive means includes an electric motor for continuously moving said paper carriage, and including an escapement mechanism for stepwise moving said paper carriage; and including means for manually operating said type levers while said paper carriage moves stepwise.

25. A machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said two sets of type levers have types provided with an upper case type face and a lower case type face, wherein said series of digits are represented by the lower case type faces, wherein the upper case type faces of both sets of type levers represent the letters of the alphabet so that a smaller number of type levers is required as compared with conventional typewriter constructions; and including a segment-shaped type lever support supporting said two sets of type levers and having a shorter arc than conventional type lever supports so as to be adapted to be located closely spaced from the imprint point of said type lever types whereby said type levers move through a smaller angle between a position of rest and said printing position than conventional type levers.

26. A machine as set forth in claim 25 wherein said type levers move through an angle of substantially 60.

27. A machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said drive means moves said paper carriage at such a speed that the return movement of a type lever of one of said sets of type levers takes place during the movement of the next operated type lever of the other set of type levers to said printed position.

28. A machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said storage device includes code element representing relays; wherein said selector means include contacts controlled by said code element representing relays; and including a storage device control relay for effecting shifting of said storage device to successive orders; contacts controlled by said code element representing relays for energizing said storage device control relay; a holding control relay controlled by said contacts of said code element representing relays and having a selector control contact; a selector control relay in series with selector control contact; two selector relays having contacts for connecting said selector means into the circuit, said selector device control relay having contacts for selectively energizing said selector relays.

29. A machine as set forth in claim 6 including means for reversing the movement of said paper carriage; and wherein said storage device is adapted to be read out from the highest order to the lowest order, or from the lowest order to the highest order so that said storage device can be read out during carriage movement in opposite directions whereby said type levers are operated during movement of said carriage in opposite directions under control of said storage device.

30. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a type lever support; two sets of type levers mounted on said support symmetrically to a plane of symmetry, each set having type faces representing the digits from 0 to 9, each type lever being movable from a position of rest to a printing position; and means for alternately actuating selected type levers of said two sets of type levers automatically in such a manner that an actuated type lever of one set moves toward said printing position while the previously actuated type lever of the other set still performs its return movement from said printing position to said position of rest.

31. A high speed typewriter comprising, in combination, a stationary support; a paper carriage mounted for movement in a writing direction and adapted to support a sheet; a plurality of type bars mounted on said support operable to and from a printing position, said type bars having type faces, said type faces of all said type bars in said printing position being located at the same impact area relative to said support; means for continuously moving said paper carriage in said writing direction past said area; and operating means controlled by said paper carriage for operating selected type bars in synchronism with said continuous movement of said paper carriage so that successively selected type bars successively move to said printing position to place said type faces at said impact area and at points of said paper carriage spaced in accordance with the speed of the carriage movement so that said type faces produce spaced imprints on a sheet supported on said paper carriage whereby said type bars can be operated in rapid succession, said operating means including electric actuating means for said type bars, movable control contact means including a plurality of contacts secured to said paper carriage, and stationary contact means on said support successively engaged by said movable contacts and being electrically connected to said actuating means so that said type bars are operated whenever said stationary contact means is engaged by one of said movable contacts.

32. A high speed typewriter comprising, in combination, a stationary support; a paper carriage mounted for movement in a writing direction and adapted to support a sheet; two sets of type bars mounted on said support operable to and from a printing position, said type bars having type faces, said type faces of all said type bars in said printing position being located at the same impact area relative to said support, the type faces of each set representing the same series of digits so that pairs of type faces represent the same digit; means for continuously moving said paper carriage in said writing direction past said area; means controlled by said carriage in successive carriage positions to render operable selected pairs of type bars having said pairs of type faces; and operating means for operating the type bars of said two sets of each selective operable pairs of type bars in synchronism with said continuous movement of said paper carriage so that successively selected type bars of said two sets alternately move to said printing position to place said type faces at said impact area and at points of said paper carriage spaced in accordance with the speed of the carriage movement so that said type faces produce spaced imprints on a sheet supported on said paper carriage whereby said type bars can be operated in rapid succession.

33. A high speed typewriter, comprising, in combination, a stationary support; a paper carriage mounted on said stationary support for movement in a writing direction and adapted to support a sheet; a storage device for storing characters or numbers in a plurality of orders and being actuated during movement of said paper carriage so that the orders of said storing device are successively read out; a plurality of type bars mounted on said support operable to and from a printing position, said type bars having type faces for representing said characters or numbers, said type faces of all said type bars in said printing position being located at the same impact relative to said support; means for continuously moving said paper carriage in said writing direction and past said type bars; control means operating in synchronism with said paper carriage; selector means controlled by said storage device to select type bar means representing characters or numbers read out from said storage device; and operating means controlled by said control means to operate selected type bars during said continuous movement of said paper carriage so that successively selected type bars successively move to said printing position to place said type faces at said impact area and at points of said paper carriage spaced in accordance with the speed of the carriage movement so that said type faces produce spaced imprints on a sheet supported on said paper carriage whereby said type bars can be operated in rapid succession.

34. A high speed typewriter, comprising, in combination, a. stationary support; a paper carriage mounted on said stationary support for movement in a Writing direction and adapted to support a sheet; a storage device for storing characters or numbers in a plurality of orders and being actuated during movement of said paper carriage so that the orders of said storing device are successively read out; a plurality of type bars mounted on said support operable to and from a printing position, said type bars having type faces for representing said characters or numbers, said type faces of all said type bars in said printing position being located at the same impact area relative to said support; means for continuously moving said paper carriage in said writing direction and past said type bars; control means including a plurality of control contacts moving in synchronism with said paper carriage; selector means controlled by said storage device to select type bars representing characters or numbers read out from said storage device; and operating means controlled by said control means to operate selected type bars during said continuous movement of said paper carriage so that successively selected type bars successively move to said printing position to place said type faces at said impact area and at points of said paper carriage spaced in accordance with the speed of the carriage movement so that said type faces produce spaced imprints on a sheet supported on said paper carriage whereby said type bars can be operated in rapid succession, said operating means including stationary contact means mounted on said support and successively engaged by said control contacts of said control means, and electric actuating means electrically connected to said stationary contact means so that said type bars are operated whenever said stationary contact means is engaged by one of said movable control contacts.

35. A typewriter as set forth in claim 34, wherein said control contacts are secured to said carriage and move with the same.

36. A typewriter comprising, in combination, a paper carriage movable in a Writing direction and adapted to support a sheet; a storage device for storing characters or numbers in a plurality of orders and being actuated during movement of said paper carriage so that the orders of said storing device are successively read out; type bar means for representing said characters or numbers and being movable to and from a printing position for printing on a sheet on said paper carriage, said type bar means including two sets of type levers, the type levers of each set representing the same series of digits; drive means for continuously moving said paper carriage past said type bar means; control means moving in synchronism with said paper carriage; selector means controlled by said storage device to simultaneously select one type bar of each set of type bars representing the digit read out from said storage device; and electric actuating means for operating said sets of type bars, said actuating means being electrically connected to said control means in such a manner that the selected type bars of said sets of type bars are alternately actuated to move to said printing position to produce imprints of read out digits on a sheet supported on said paper carriage while the same is in continuous motion whereby said type bars can be operated in rapid succession.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 717,144 12/1902 Uhlig 197-22 2,139,700 12/1938 Slavin 197-14 X 2,578,771 12/1951 Zint 197-82 (Other references on following page) UNITED Eckert et a1. 101-93 Gibson 197-19 Zint 197-84 Arthur 197-14 Baudot 310-268 X Sargeant et a1 132-268 X ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner. ROBERT A. LEIGHEY, Examiner. 

1. A TYPEWRITING MACHINE COMPRISING A MOVABLE PAPER CARRIAGE ADAPTED TO SUPPORT A SHEET; TYPE LEVER MEANS OPERABLE TO AND FROM A PRINTING POSITION FOR PRINTING ON A SHEET ON SAID PAPER CARRIAGE AND INCLUDING TWO SETS OF TYPE LEVERS, THE TYPE LEVERS OF EACH SET REPRESENTING THE SAME SERIES OF DIGITS SO THAT PAIRS OF TYPE LEVERS REPRESENT THE SAME DIGIT; MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY MOVING SAID PAPER CARRIAGE PAST SAID TYPE LEVER MEANS; MEANS CONTROLLED BY SAID CARRIAGE FOR RENDERING OPERABLE IN SUCCESSIVE CARRIAGE POSITIONS SELECTED PAIRS OF SAID PAIRS OF TYPE LEVERS; AND OPERATING MEANS CONTROLLED BY SAID CARRIAGE TO ALTERNATELY OPERATE PAIR OF TYPE LEVERS OF SAID TWO SETS OF EACH SELECTED OPERABLE PAIR OF TYPE LEVERS DURING CONTINUOUS MOVEMENT OF SAID PAPER CARRIAGE SO THAT SAID TYPE LEVERS OF SAID TWO SETS ALTERNATELY PRINT ON THE SHEET AND PRODUCE SPACED IMPRINTS THEREON WHILE SAID CARRIAGE IS IN MOTION WHEREBY SAID TYPE LEVER MEANS CAN BE OPERATED IN VERY RAPID SUCCESSION. 